Bangla Rd in Patong is the place to be where all the action is going on. It is correct that Phuket has become a more family orientated destination, but this just means that all the action is compacted into a small area so it is easy to avoid for families with small kids.
As a holiday destination this is actually very nice because you don´t get hassled at all when outside this area.
Also it means that the place offers better restaurants and nightlife options than areas like Pattaya.
Highly recommended and have a great time with the fantastic freelance girls you can find at clubs like Hollywood and Seduction. Price is around 1,000 baht for an all-nighter with all the action you can handle!